Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year Award 2013 - Finalists

The finalists for the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year Award 2013 have been announced.

Now in its 19th year, this stand-up award for up-and-coming comedians -which is linked to the city's comedy festival - is known for picking out comedy stars of the future. Previous winners include Rhod Gilbert, Jason Manford, Johnny Vegas and Mitch Benn.

2009 winner Seann Walsh has just had a TV series commissioned (Seann Walsh World) and 2010 winner Josh Widdicombe has also quickly scaled the comedy career ladder (he returns for a series of Channel 4 show The Last Leg later this month). The 2011 prize went jointly to Ben Target and Tom Rosenthal, the latter of which is now the star of Friday Night Dinner, meanwhile last year's winner Matt Rees is widely tipped as a comedian to watch now.

To enter the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year, comedians must be nominated by an agent or promoter. Here is a list of comedians taking part this year, along with their official biographies...

Lucy Beaumont

Lucy Beaumont is a hugely talented comedy actress, writer and winner of the BBC New Comedy Award 2012, Radio 2's search for new stand-up talent. In 2011 she was a finalist in the Gilded Balloon's nationwide stand-up comedy competition So You Think You're Funny? In 2009 Lucy was elected to be mentored by Jeremy Dyson (The League of Gentlemen) as part of Northern Laughs, a BBC initiative aimed at finding new comedy writing talent in the North of England. Since then Lucy's work has been showcased by BBC Comedy North, West Yorkshire Playhouse and the 24:7 Theatre Festival.

Romesh Ranganathan

Laughing Horse New Act of The Year 2010 semi-finalist, 2010's So You Think You're Funny? finalist and Latitude New Act of The Year 2010, comedian and writer Romesh Ranganathan has had an extremely busy year. As well as supporting well known comedy names such as Seann Walsh, Andi Osho and Paul Chowdhry in 2012, Romesh also took on the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Definitely one to watch in 2013.

Adam Hess

Adam Hess' skill for joke-writing and his likable, high-energy performance style assured him a place as one of the most exciting new acts of 2011 and winner of the Chortle Student Comedy Award. At last year's Edinburgh Festival he performed regularly to full houses and as part of the Chortle Fast Fringe. He has also performed as part of the Best of Chortle Awards Tour and on the comedy stages of the Southsea Festival, Cornbury Festival and Latitude.

Jamie Demetriou

Jamie Demetriou is an award-winning character comedian, writer and actor. His student revue show Bristol Revunions received critical acclaim at Edinburgh Fringe 2009-2011. He also wrote a sitcom pilot in 2011 that was shortlisted for the main prize in the BBC's 2011 Laughing Stock competition. He is now a regular on the London stand-up circuit and is currently developing material for Channel 4.

Danny Ward

Since November 2008, Danny Ward has been travelling Great Britain, often in his T-reg Polo, sometimes on a coach, entertaining audiences with his unique style of observational humour. A self-proclaimed 'tataholic', Ward is on a mission to spread the lesson he refuses to learn - when you try and do things on the cheap, it ends up costing you more. With a delivery that is up-beat and well honed, his easy-going style is both endearing and very funny. Danny was a finalist in the Amused Moose New Act Competition in 2009 and for the last three years has hosted many of the London heats of So You Think You're Funny?, as well as the Reading New Act Competition Finals in 2009 and 2010.

Tez Ilyas

BBC New Comedy Award finalist Tez Ilyas hit the ground running the moment he entered the comedy scene - he's found himself in seven competition finals and won the much coveted Comedy Store's King Gong. A mischievous and engaging comic, he has a much needed insight into today's multicultural society. Tackling a variety of topics with an intelligent mind, he has a flair for deconstructing modern society and subverting audience's expectations. His playful style and cheeky personality allows him to speak his mind; couple this with his wry wit and he is able to entertain audiences everywhere with his unique take on the modern world. Tez is one third of Chuckle Sandwich who made their Edinburgh Fringe debut with their split-hour show, Gags, Songs & Bombs! in 2011, receiving both four and five star reviews.

Mark Simmons

Delivering an inventive stream of one-liners, Chortle Award nominee 2012 Mark Simmons is quickly establishing himself as a young comic to watch. With a strong, material driven set laden with quirky quips and slow-burners, his understated style is intelligent and full of laugh out loud gags. He also comperes for the Lonestar comedy clubs across the Kent area, and hosts for Brighton's Red Brick Comedy Club and Comic Boom at the Brighton Komedia.

Kwame Asante

Winner of The Chortle Student Comedian Of The Year 2012, runner up in the Loaded LAFTA's Search for a Star 2011 and finalist in The Leicester Square Comedian of The Year 2010, Kwame uses his undeniable charisma and on stage presence to play against audience's expectations, which makes his comedy fresh, intelligent and most importantly funny. He has already played The Boat Show, Joker Southend, Up The Creek and Careys Comedy Club Coventry.

This year's judging panel comprises of Steve North (channel Dave), Mick Perrin (Promoter), Sarah Farrell (Comedy Central), Bruce Dessau (The Evening Standard), Andy Leitch (Off The Kerb) and Paul Banks (The Leicester Mercury).

The final will take place during Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival on Saturday 23rd February at The Y venue. Jarred Christmas will, once again, act as the MC.

For more information on Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival, and to book tickets visit the festival's website: www.comedy-festival.co.uk

The festival is also repeating its annual search for 'the oldest stand-up in the UK'. The competition is open to anyone aged over 55 and heats will be held on Sunday 27th January at The Pleasance (Islington, London) with winners being selected by a panel of judges to take part in the final on Thursday 14th February in Leicester. Entry to the competition is now open and details can be obtained by emailing ashley@bigdifferencecompany.co.uk

The Silver Stand Up Competition has received support from established acts including Sir Bruce Forsyth, Alexei Sayle and Jasper Carrot. On launching the competition, Arthur Smith said "Untroubled by the need to visit night clubs or 'be cool', the old survey the world at a longer perspective and are funnier than the screaming youngsters. Who is funnier - Barry Cryer or Jedward? The old repeat themselves, the young have nothing to say - the boredom is mutual. The old repeat themselves, the young have nothing to say - the boredom is mutual."